Embracing Heritage, Pursuing Dreams by Melanie

Embracing Heritage, Pursuing Dreams by Melanie - April 2024 Scholarship Essay

The wooden rocking chairs, a terra cotta color, and carvings of intricate abstract flowers with intertwined vines. We would rock our chairs as the scent fell upon us, the smell of ripe mangos. My grandmother told me stories of her children and herself under her mango trees when I visited her in Mexico—raising 10 children as a single mother in a house composed of galvanized sheets. Through all her hardships and adversities, she always instilled in me the importance of community and unity. My mom carried this with her when she immigrated to the U.S.A. It was not easy for her either, from working in factories and raising 3 children. Seeing my loved ones give so much when they have so little has encouraged me to live my life with the same values and mindedness as them. This is one of the main driving forces why I am pursuing an education.

However, growing up as a first generation Mexican-American I’ve also come to notice that I am different from others. I have walked into classrooms where I was the only person that looked like myself. Although at the time it was intimidating, I've learned to make space for myself. I’ve learned to make room for myself even if there’s nobody else that looks like me. It is important to make a space for people that look like me, for the people that came before me and after me. I’ve had my moments of self-doubt, there were moments where I felt misplaced. I was uncertain about my own identity, I felt not Mexican or American enough. I felt I could not relate to either culture at moments such as at the workplace or school. It can be frustrating and create a lot of inner conflict with oneself. But my grandmother has also instilled in me to be proud of my origin and my culture. With this in mind, I’ve been able to overcome some of my doubts and validate my own experiences. As time passed, I became more prideful of my identity.

As I continue to embark on my career and life path, I will continue to carry these values that were taught to me. My inspirations are my family, for what they went through for me and what they taught me. Every day I carry a remembrance of them through my aspirations and dreams. With this reminder, I will never lose sight of my academic pursuits. Even with the struggles that have come with being a first generation Mexican-American, I will always have pride in my culture, and in every chapter of my life, I will take with me all the lessons I’ve been taught.